5.Comparison of Mount Merapi and Big E Flashcards
Big E overview
Situated on constructive plate boundary Iceland 2010 Covered by great thicknesses of ice Balsaltic lava 10km high ash plume with sulphur and caused some earthquakes
Big E economic impacts
● The ash plume stopped 100,000 jet engines, just in Europe.
● However, the channel tunnel and ferries did extra business.
● Europe lost US$2.6 billion GDP.
● Horticulture lost £3 million a day.
● The ash made Icelandic soil so fertile farmers could produce rapeseed oil and grapes
Big E social impacts
● 700 people evacuated due to the flooding from the melted glacier.
● The ash contaminated drinking water supplies.
● Ash caused respiratory illnesses for some locals.
● Cancelled flights left many stranded in different countries.
Big E environmental impacts
● Less aircraft noise and 2.8 million tonnes less CO2 due to flight bans.
● Jökulhaup river became 100x its normal capacity.
● Fluoride deposits on grazing land poisoned cattle.
● Fertiliser for the surrounding land was not needed.
● Surrounding rivers were silted with ash.
Big E Management
Preparedness: diggers in position to dam rivers, texts were sent to locals with a 30 min warning
Immediate responses: 700 locals evacuated, 10,000 European flights cancelled, exclusion zone created
Long term responses: Icelandic government, rebuilt river banks higher than before
Mount Merapi Overview
Located in Java Indonesia, on subduction zone of Indo-Australian and Eurasian plates
Active composite volcano with andesitic lava
Erupted in October 2010 multiple times violently
Index 4
Mount Merapi Negative social impacts
200,000 people were made homeless by the eruption and 320,000 people were displaced.
Emergency shelters had to be moved to 15km away.
The danger area was extended to 20km from the mountain and 278,000 people living in the area had to flee their homes. Evacuation centres were overcrowded leading to poor sanitation
353 people were killed from the main eruption and the smaller ones that followed. 5000 people were killed due to the earthquake that occurred 50km South-West of Mt Merapi.
Mount Merapi Environmental impacts
Ash, rock and lava deposited on the sides of the volcano were washed down into towns by rainfall creating a lahar. Sulphur dioxide was blown across Indonesia as far South as Australia. Ash from the volcano eventually led to more fertile soils in the area. Water supplies were contaminated with acidic lava and ash.
Mount Merapi Management
Short term: 210 evacuation centres set up
1600 people, either volunteers or military were part of the national aid response.
Long term: 2682 people had to be moved to new safer houses permanently. The government is making money available to farmers to help replace their livestock.
